Introduction
Yale University is among the most reputable institutions of higher learning in the United States and the world over. The institution is known to have produced some of the best minds in various professions. However, the institution is also known to have some secret societies and organizations. There have been different opinions over the issue of secret organizations in learning institutions. Some people argue that these societies derail students from the main purpose of going to learn. Others believe these societies are breeding grounds for future leaders. The secret societies in Yale date back decades back. It is believed that each secret society has an objective and that at least every student is a member of one or more secret society during their stay in the institution.
There are several secret societies in the university. Some are kept as secrets while some are known to exist for the last several decades. These societies have different objectives. Some of the examples of secret societies in Yale University include; Skull and Bones, Wolf’s Head Society and Scroll and Key Society. These are the three largest secret societies in the institution. There are other secret societies in the university, formed for various reasons by different individuals who passed through the university. These societies have remained a mystery to many because of the various reports that keep arising on what each secret society does.
The level of secrecy in these secret societies differs based on the independence these groups are granted by the institution’s administration. However, the legendary nature of some of Yale’s secret societies has made them popular. Some of the nation’s greatest and influential personalities such as Senator John Kerry and George H. W. Bush were members of these secret societies.
Skull and Bones secret society
This is the oldest and most mysterious secret organizations in the United States. It is a society meant for senior undergraduate students at the Yale University in Connecticut. This secret organization is owned by the university’s alumni organization called the Russell Trust Association. The Association was named after the one of the founders of the Skull and Bones society, William Huntington.
This secret organization is almost two centuries old. It was formed in 1832 after a dispute between different debating societies in the university. The disputing societies included Brothers in unity, Linonia as well as the Calliopean Society. The dispute arose after the societies failed to agree on that year’s Order of the Scull and bones awards. The Skull and Bones has produced Yale University’s top student leaders and presidents. These individuals have gone ahead to be leaders in major institutions, hospitals and even the country’s politics. The society mainly comprised of senior students in the early years. However, from 1879, they started selecting a specific number of boys and girls from the first and second year to join the secret society. The identified individuals were those who were potential leaders whom the group expected to mould into future leaders of the secret society. The group believes that campus leaders are an important part of the society and for that reason; the group has produced so many student leader over the years. The group has produced the highest number of presidents of the student union in the University’s history. The group selects 15 ladies and young men from the junior levels to join the organization for the purpose of ensuring continuity.
The secret society boasts to have produced the USA’s presidents such as George h. w. Bush, William Howard Taft, George W. Bush and Frederick Smith, a FedEx founder. The secret society hides no further from plain sight. Its signs and features are said to be in public places, only hidden by the secrecy of their importance to society. Society believes in private networking where individuals have intimate bonding amongst themselves to promote a self-selected, cohesive and diverse membership. It is even said that there is a list that comprises of the members of this secret society. However, no one has ever set eyes on it.
The skulls and bones use specific titles for its members depending on their rank in society. Some of the family names that have leaked to the public include Lord, Taft, Whitney, Jay, Bundy, Pinchot, Weyerhaeuser, Rockefeller, Sloane, Goodyear, Phelps, Stimson, Perkins, Kellogg, Pillsbury, Bush, Vanderbilt and Lovett. These are names of former influential individuals in Skulls and Bones that are still respected for their contribution. The family names are used because in most cases the siblings and children to these individuals also attended Yale University and were part of the Skull and Bones society hence; they formed a dynasty where these names were a mainstay, forming the family names.
The tomb
Skull and Bones society has a hall named after the society. The hall is at times referred to as the tomb. The building was built in the 19th century. The architect who designed the building are not known really because some people argue that it was Henry Austin while others say it was Alex Davis. The building has been used by the secret society as its property. It also owns other assets which are in the Yale University Gallery. It also manages and owns the Deer Island found in Lawrence River. The assets are managed by the alumni association.
Bones men
These are members of the secret society. Members are mostly those inclined to powerful families in the United States. The society has evolved over the years, to include members from different gender and religion. Initially there were only white males who were all Protestants. However, the society is now more inclusive and cohesive. The group’s members remain secretive and do not tell much about their society, leaving journalists and the public to speculate on what they possibly do and why they do it.
Wolf’s Head society
This is another secret society in Yale University, which dates back to the 19th century, 1884. The society always has an annual re-composition of 15 to 16 students from the university who are graduating into seniors in the institution. It was formed as a third society to counter the strength and dominance of the skull and bones society. Over 300 students joined the organization in an effort to neutralize the Skull and bones. Some members in the Skulls and bones felt alienated hence; they decided to break way to form a strong organization of that would administer justice to undergraduate student affairs.
The wolf Head society was established at a time when university administrations in the USA were abolishing student organizations. For instance, sophomore societies had been abolished in 1875. Therefore this organization faced the risk of being abolished. It was supported by the junior societies, athletic teams, campus organizations and other fraternities. The organization had a breakthrough in 1888 when the society’s name was changed to Wolf’s Head. The symbol was changed to the head of a wolf drawn on an inverted Egyptian ankh. The symbol was to mean eternal life because the ankh means a key to life.
The Wolf’s Head society quickly established a niche in Yale. The society managed to put up the Old Hall in a matter of months after it was founded. The membership of the Wolf’s Head is reputed to be of prep school people. Former members were
Scroll and Key
This is the third secret student society in the University of Yale that dates back to 1842. This society is thought to have had the wealthiest members hence; it still has a wealthy outlook. It is only younger than the Skull and Bones since it was formulated in 1842 after John Addison Porter was assisted by other members to form the group. This occurred after there were sharp differences over the elections to lead the Skull and Bones society. Therefore, it was a result of a power struggle within the Skull and bones Society. Even though the Skull and bones played an integral role in the university’s social circles and activities, Keys were busy building their organization to rival the Skull and Bones. For this reason, Keys found it hard to develop and recruit new members. However, it managed to recruit the 15 necessary members annually that would ensure the society had continuity and strong leadership.
The Keys managed to assemble the necessary resources and recruit enough members to rival their nemesis. As of the recent past, the keys had overturned the order of things. They own the most superior hall as compared to all other college secret societies in the United States if America. It also has the richest membership any other college has ever had.
The society’s rich background has led to a unique aspect that most other societies do not have. The Keys finance their activities from their society kitty without external help. Their assets are unmatched by any other society. They have also made different charitable work and donations to the University in the past. For example, the society owns the John Addison Porter Award. It is an award named after the society’s founding father. It is aimed at funding various Yale publications.
The society owns a hall just named the Building, which was constructed back in 1869. However, it was expanded in 1901 after the society has accumulated wealth and was able to finance just anything it required. The hall is the largest that any student society in USA owns. The building was designed by Richard Morris Hunt is in the Moorish Revival style. The building has a unique look because it was developed in the 19th century when the architectural designs were undergoing a transformation. Some people refer to this building as the best building in New Haven where the Yale University is situated. This goes a long way to describe the influence the Keys society has on the Yale students today.
The Scroll and Keys secret society has some prominent members since its inception. Some of the notable ones include Cord Meyer, Frank Polk, Theodore Runyon, Warren Zimmerman, Thomas Enders and Henry deforest. There are many other prominent individuals whom this society is known to have nurtured.
Rivalry
It is clear that these two later student societies were formed after there were disagreements and power struggle in the main student secret society group, the Skulls and Bones. This implies that there have been rivalries between the various groups as they seek to gain dominance over the other. However, it is important to note that the rivalry has always been a transparent one. There have been no dirty tricks played by one society to gain dominance over the other. Most of the time, every group is focused on its operations and self-empowerment. These groups received support from alumni of the university who were members of that respective society.
Conclusion
Therefore, the secret societies of Yale University date back over one century ago. The oldest society is the Bones and Skulls society which began in 1832. Due to disagreements and alienation, the Scroll and Keys was formed in 1842 to counter the Skull and Bones dominance. The Wolf’s Head joined the fray in 1884 to be the third largest and oldest secret society in Yale. These societies conduct their operations independent of the university’s operations. The members are very secretive of their groups’ operations. The societies select new members annually to ensure continuity of their society. Therefore, Yale University has a rich background of secret societies that is enriching.
Works Cited
Browne, Sylvia. Secret Societies: And How They Affect Our Lives Today. Los Angeles: ReadHowYouWant.com, 2009.
Estevez, Benita. Secret Societies. New York: RW Press, 2009.
Hieronimus, Robert. Founding Fathers, Secret Societies: Freemasons, Illuminati, Rosicrucians, and the Decoding of the Great Seal. New York: Inner Traditions / Bear & Co, 2011.
Hodapp, Christopher. Conspiracy Theories and Secret Societies For Dummies. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 2011.
Loyd, Evelyn. The Hellfire Clubs: Sex, Satanism and Secret Societies. New Haven: YALE University Press, 2010.
Ownby, David and Mary Somers Heidhues. "Secret Societies" Reconsidered. New York: M.E. Sharpe, 1993.
Reynolds, John Lawrence . Secret Societies: Inside the World's Most Notorious Organizations. New York: Arcade Publishing, 2006.
Steiger, Brad and Sherry Steiger. Conspiracies and Secret Societies: The Complete Dossier. New York: Visible Ink Press, 2012.
